Lithuania: State of emergency as ASF hits large farm

An outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) on the Danish-owned Idavang Company pig farm has led to the drastic measure of the state of emergency in Lithuania

Idavang Company, in Ignalina district is one of the largest pig and exemplary farms in Lithuania, and mentioned the outbreak on its own website, yesterday. Veterinarians from Denmark came in to check and verify the cause of the disease which has already killed 15 sows, 15 weaners and 31 finishers.

The Lithuanian director of the State Food and Veterinary Service, Jonas Milius said it is one of the largest pig farms in the country, with the population of 20,000 pigs.

He said, "Last night we received a message that the pigs started dying in Rupinskay houses, which is part of the company's farm. He added that this farm has been an inspiration for many other producers, as it was a good example of the successful use of the progressive protective equipment.

"We showed it [the farm] to foreigners, and in the last month to Russian delegations as the good example," says the head of service. "Double fence, almost no car gets inside, even milk is served by the hoses, not machines."

According to Milius, vets are currently trying to identify how the virus got on to farm. According to him, it is possible that the outbreak didn't happen by accident and this could be sabotage. He also added that all 20,000 heads of pigs will be culled due to the disease.

The outbreak has forced the country's Food and Veterinary Service to stop the export of non-heat-treated pork and declare a state of emergency in all border regions of the country. The ban applies to raw pork, and some heat-treated products - kupats, cutlet mass, kebab, minced meat.